Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1887-03-16
Democratic County Committee.
TIE RIGHT COURSE TO ADOPT-RELIEVEs
FROM BLAME AND LEADS TO VICTORY.

Under the present state of circumstances
1t Is not an enviable position to be MEM
Der of the Democratic County Committee,
and we very fully appreciate the embar-
rassment and perplexity of that Commit
tee upon which such heavy responsibility
rests as that of determining the fate of the
party in the ensuing election. 1t is their
purpose to exercise their best Judgments
with all the lights before them. They will
consider all the diverse views presented,
and look calmly at the whole field, and
govern their action by their judgment o.
what will be for the best interests of the
county and the Democratic patty. If they
eau adopt policy that will harmonic the
views Of these who seem to differ very
widely, they will no doubt do so. If they
car do that, the difficulty will be removed,
AVID the perplexing problem will be solved.
Now,w what are the principal opposing poll
cies that have been recommended?
Tho first is, That the party should be so ar
ganzed as to present single ticket, that it
may receive the concentrated vote of the
Democrats, and thus increase it's chances
Of success
The second is, That there should be no
organiz ltion-no Democratic nominations
and to let the field be full of Democratic
cand dates and the Democratic vote SO
split up between them as that the Republic
can ticket may have a comfortable ''walk-
over and easily secure all the important
county offices.
The argument for this latter and fatal
view is, That there are great many aspir-
ing Democrats who flatter themselves that
they have marvellous popular strength,
and tn 1t if they all be allowed to run, they
will find how much they have been mis-
taken, and that then they will be better
friends OF party or ganization lii the future.
This idea is IA ] tcinus-it is in contraven-
tion of human nature, ard contrary to all
party experience TIE party is not
siren 9Th ned, bnt veal ened. by the dis
appointment and IN rtiication of off &C.
seekers. But if it should teach these aspi-
rants a salutary lesson, it would be at too
great cost. 1t would be paying entirely
too much for the whistle to give all the I'M
portant Offices in the county for long
term of years to the Republicans in ex-
change fer the lesson thus taught to disap
pointed candidates.
The question now is, Can a policy Of
party organization be adopted that will ac-
a.,-s,t,tich dc ~ cd Inv, he o.tx.
Gates of both the policies above indicated?
If SO. that is the policy The Committee
should adopt. We think The Committee
will have no difficulty 10 the adoption OF
inst snch policy-and that is, nolliRa-
oNs by primary election, 1.-THE fairest mode
possible.
'fhia will allow every candidate of the
,srty to enter the field fer nomination,
and will enable him 10 ascertain what Lis
popular strength in the party is, and thus
be taught the lesson above referred to
without giving in exchange for it all The
Offices of the county to tie Republican
party.
This mode will accomplish The purpose of
those who oppose party organization in
this election, ard it VI ii also accomplish the
more important object Of these who favor
party organiZation-the nomination of a
single NemocrQtic ticket, which should re-
eeive every Democratic vote and be trium-
phaaily elected. The adoption Of this
course would relieve The County Committee
of all blame, even if the election should,
unfortunate ely, bs lost, and would rebound
t" it's credit for wisdom, patriotism, and
party loyalty, if it should be won, as in all
probability it would be, for with single
ticket, the chances for success are good,
whilst without it, defeat is inevitable.
To this mode of making nominations, no
Democrat could reasonably object and to
do So would be to acknowledge that he
was not the choice of the Democrats of the
couutS or district. No Democrat could
object to this mode, unless be should base
his hope of election on the recep tion of Re-
publican votes ; and we Go not suppose
there is Democratic candidate who is
lngging such transparent delusicn as
that. The Republican ale Paying very
willy game i'll this cinvass, and they mean
business, aud are playing to win, aid will
d. 40 unless the Democrats unite npon q
s'ngie ticket They will give no votes to
Democratic Candidates. On this, you may
r7iy.
We have never presumed to dictate to
the regularly constituted authorities of the
purity the policy they 81 onld adept, and we
are very far from dong g., in this i, stance,
but We feel deep interest in The action of
the County Committee, because we believe
that upon it depends the de.iest interests
of the county and the Demociatic party,
aud AS citizen desiring the welfare of
b tn. ar rot consulting the interests of
a'y ling or clique, Or particular candi-
dats, we deem it our duty to give plainly
ID frankly our views as to the proper
r,lics to adopt. The Committee, no doubr.
desires to have the views of all who have
ftudied the dificult problem devolved upon
them to solve, ard more particularly tie
views of those who are not candidates or
the partisans of partieu' ar Candidates. that
they ray be aided iu arriving at the true
solution Of il, or the principle that Sin
n, llti'mda of c"uuseliors, there is wi
dom" We have faith iu the pure mativ
and sound Judgment of Ihe Committee, ard
believe that, after due ard calm deIiber
zion, il will arrive at wise cat.clnsinn, and
E,!l euti.is irssl; W lie award, ''Well 6ene,
th-u gr,-d ard ,;nstfu srrvae,.'
1t is rumcred that M. Lawrence Rarrett's
eldest daughteris to wed Mr.. Edwin Bco.t.